Multiple Working Steps Patents (Class 148/696)
  • Patent number: 10023944
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and compositions for improved warm-forming of light metal alloys, such as aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, or titanium alloys, are disclosed. The systems and methods relate to pulse thermal processing, engineered plastic deformation, and micro-aging processes, as well as to the application of multi-functional lubricants. The disclosed multifunctional lubricant compositions provide a number of advantages when used in warm-forming processes, and in one embodiment, include organo-titanates and magnesium hydroxide, and in other embodiments an organo-titanate, magnesium hydroxide and boron nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kevin S. Schnipke, Alex W. Kawczak, Philip Vais, Peter Schupska, Ryan M. Hahnlen, Joshua P. Dowd
  • Patent number: 8784582
    Abstract: A heat exchanger use high strength aluminum alloy fin material having a high strength and excellent in thermal conductivity, erosion resistance, sag resistance, sacrificial anodization effect, and self corrosion resistance, characterized by containing Si: 0.8 to 1.4 wt %, Fe: 0.15 to 0.7 wt %, Mn: 1.5 to 3.0 wt %, and Zn: 0.5 to 2.5 wt %, limiting the Mg as an impurity to 0.05 wt % or less, and having a balance of ordinary impurities and Al in chemical composition, having a metal structure before brazing of a fibrous crystal grain structure, a tensile strength before brazing of not more than 240 MPa, a tensile strength after brazing of not less than 150 MPa, and a recrystallized grain size after brazing of 500 ?m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Suzuki, Yoshito Oki, Tomohiro Sasaki, Masae Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20130312881
    Abstract: A method of producing a shaped aluminium alloy panel, preferably for aerospace or automotive applications, from 5000-series alloy sheet. The method includes: providing a sheet made of 5000-series alloy having a thickness of about 0.05 to 10 mm and a length in the longest dimension of at least 800 mm; and stretch forming the sheet at a forming temperature between ?100° C. and ?25° C., to obtain a shaped aluminium alloy panel. A shaped article formed by the above method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: ALERIS ROLLED PRODUCTS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Arjen Kamp, Sabine Maria Spangel
  • Patent number: 8551267
    Abstract: Aluminum or aluminum alloy sputter targets and methods of making same are provided. The pure aluminum or aluminum alloy is mechanically worked to produce a circular blank, and then the blank is given a recrystallization anneal to achieve desirable grain size and crystallographic texture. A 10-50% additional strain is provided to the blank step after the annealing to increase the mechanical strength. Further, in a flange area of the target, the strain is greater than in the other target areas with the strain in the flange area being imparted at a rate of about 20-60% strain. The blank is then finished to form a sputtering target with desirable crystallographic texture and adequate mechanical strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tosoh SMD, Inc.
    Inventors: Weifang Miao, David B. Smathers, Robert S. Bailey
  • Patent number: 8366846
    Abstract: Disclosed is an Al—Mg—Si aluminum alloy sheet that can prevent ridging marks during press forming and has good reproducibility even with stricter fabricating conditions. In an Al—Mg—Si aluminum alloy sheet of a specific composition, hot rolling is performed on the basis of a set relationship between the rolling start temperature Ts and the rolling finish temperature Tf° C., whereby the relationship of the cube orientation distribution profile in the horizontal direction of the sheet with the cube orientation alone or another crystal orientation distribution profile at various locations in the depth direction of the sheet is made more uniform, suppressing the appearance of ridging marks that develop during sheet press forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Takaki, Takeo Sakurai, Kwangjin Lee
  • Patent number: 8226781
    Abstract: A heat exchanger use high strength aluminum alloy fin material having a high strength and excellent in thermal conductivity, elusion resistance, sag resistance, sacrificial anodization effect, and self corrosion resistance, characterized by containing Si: 0.8 to 1.4 wt %, Fe: 0.15 to 0.7 wt %, Mn: 1.5 to 3.0 wt %, and Zn: 0.5 to 2.5 wt %, limiting the Mg as an impurity to 0.05 wt % or less, and having a balance of ordinary impurities and Al in chemical composition, having a metal structure before brazing of a fibrous crystal grain structure, a tensile strength before brazing of not more than 240 MPa, a tensile strength after brazing of not less than 150 MPa, and a recrystallized grain size after brazing of 500 ?m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Suzuki, Yoshito Oki, Tomohiro Sasaki, Masae Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 8142575
    Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide an aluminum alloy fin material for a heat exchanger, which has high strength and high heat conductivity after brazing, and is excellent in the resistance to sagging, erosion and self-corrosion and the in the sacrificial anode effect. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A method for producing an aluminum alloy fin material for a heat exchanger which comprises providing a molten aluminum alloy having a chemical composition, in wt %, that Si: 0.5 to 1.5%, Fe: 0.15 to 1.00%, Mn: 0.8 to 3.0%, Zn: 0.5 to 2.5%, with the proviso that the content of Mg as an impurity is limited to 0.05 wt % or less, and the balance: Al and inevitable impurities, casting the molten alloy continuously into a thin slab having a thickness of 5 to 10 mm by the use of a twin belt casting machine, winding up the slab into a roll, cold-rolling the slab into a sheet having a thickness of 0.05 to 2.0 mm, subjecting the sheet to an inter annealing at 350 to 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Oki, Hideki Suzuki, Haruo Sugiyama, Toshiya Anami, Tomohiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8110051
    Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide an aluminum alloy fin material for a heat exchanger, which has high strength and high heat conductivity after brazing, and is excellent in the resistance to sagging, erosion and self-corrosion and the in the sacrificial anode effect. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A method for producing an aluminum alloy fin material for a heat exchanger which comprises providing a molten aluminum alloy having a chemical composition, in wt %, that Si: 0.5 to 1.5%, Fe: 0.15 to 1.0%, Mn: 0.8 to 3.0%, Zn: 0.5 to 2.5%, with the proviso that the content of Mg as an impurity is limited to 0.05 wt % or less, and the balance: Al and inevitable impurities, casting the molten alloy continuously into a thin slab having a thickness of 5 to 10 mm by the use of a twin belt casting machine, winding up the slab into a roll, cold-rolling the slab into a sheet having a thickness of 0.05 to 2.0 mm, subjecting the sheet to an inter annealing at 350 to 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Oki, Hideki Suzuki, Haruo Sugiyama, Toshiya Anami, Tomohiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7998288
    Abstract: A heat exchanger use high strength aluminum alloy fin material having a high strength and excellent in thermal conductivity, erosion resistance, sag resistance, sacrificial anodization effect, and self corrosion resistance, characterized by containing Si: 0.8 to 1.4 wt %, Fe: 0.15 to 0.7 wt %, Mn: 1.5 to 3.0 wt %, and Zn: 0.5 to 2.5 wt %, limiting the Mg as an impurity to 0.05 wt % or less, and having a balance of ordinary impurities and Al in chemical composition, having a metal structure before brazing of a fibrous crystal grain structure, a tensile strength before brazing of not more than 240 MPa, a tensile strength after brazing of not less than 150 MPa, and a recrystallized grain size after brazing of 500 ?m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Suzuki, Yoshito Oki, Tomohiro Sasaki, Masae Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 7922841
    Abstract: An aluminum or aluminum-alloy material sheet comprised of an aluminum material having an ultra-fine, submicron grain structure. The strength and physical properties of the aluminum or aluminum-alloy material sheet are improved over previous aluminum and aluminum-alloy material sheets because the aluminum is produced by cryomilling the aluminum or aluminum-alloy materials into a metal powder with ultra-fine, submicron grain structure. The powder is consolidated and rolled into the form of a sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Clifford C. Bampton, Patrick B. Berbon, Steven G. Keener
  • Publication number: 20110056828
    Abstract: Aluminum or aluminum alloy sputter targets and methods of making same are provided. The pure aluminum or aluminum alloy is mechanically worked to produce a circular blank, and then the blank is given a recrystallization anneal to achieve desirable grain size and crystallographic texture. A 10-50% additional strain is provided to the blank step after the annealing to increase the mechanical strength. Further, in a flange area of the target, the strain is greater than in the other target areas with the strain in the flange area being imparted at a rate of about 20-60% strain. The blank is then finished to form a sputtering target with desirable crystallographic texture and adequate mechanical strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: TOSOH SMD, INC.
    Inventors: Weifang Miao, David B. Smathers, Robert S. Bailey
  • Patent number: 7846277
    Abstract: A flat, rolled semi-finished product made of an aluminum alloy and a method of producing the product are disclosed. The aluminum alloys has the following alloy proportions in weight percentages: 2?Mg?5, Mn?0.5, Cr?0.35, Si?0.4, Fe?0.4, Cu?0.3, Zn?0.3, Ti?0.15, other elements totaling no more than 0.15 and separately not exceeding 0.05, and the remainder consists of Al. The semifinished product is rolled from a bar and, during the rolling process, is subjected to at least one intermediate tempering between two cold reduction passes and to a final soft-annealing in a chamber furnace. A semi-finished product of this type does not have any flow lines after shaping or deep-drawing if the degree of reshaping before the first intermediate tempering is equal to at least 50%, the degree of reshaping before the final soft-annealing is no greater than 30%, and the semifinished product is drawn by 0.1 to 0.5% after the final soft-annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hydro Aluminium Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Kehl, Manfred Mrotzek
  • Patent number: 7730753
    Abstract: The hot stretch forming of sheet metal alloys, such as highly deformable aluminum alloy materials, is improved by using a lubricant comprising bismuth between the forming tool and the engaged surface of the sheet metal. A precursor of bismuth, such as bismuth subsalicylate, may be dispersed in a liquid and applied to the sheet metal before the sheet is heated to its forming temperature. Other lubricants such as boron nitride may be combined with the bismuth precursor. The precursor compound is decomposed to bismuth (or bismuth and carbon in the case of bismuth subsalicylate) which lubricates contact between the surface(s) of the sheet and the forming tool during forming and removal of the formed part from the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Krajewski, Yang T. Cheng
  • Patent number: 7727346
    Abstract: A method of making a wrought aluminium-magnesium alloy rolled product, having a composition (in wt. %) of: 3.1<Mg<4.5; 0.4<Mn<0.85; 0.4<Zn<0.8; 0.06<Cu<0.35; 0.06<Cr<0.2; Fe<0.35; Si<0.2; Zr<0.05; Ti<0.3; impurities?0.05 each up to a total of max. 0.15, and balance aluminium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Corus Aluminum NV, Corus Aluminum Walzprodukte GmbH
    Inventors: Job Anthonius Van Der Hoeven, Linzong Zhuang, Bruno Schepers, Peter De Smet, Jean Pierre Jules Baekelandt
  • Patent number: 7618502
    Abstract: The wear resistant aluminum alloy elongate body contains 7-13 mass % of Si, 0.001-0.3 mass % of iron, 2.0-5.0 mass % of Cu, 0.3-1.0 mass % of Mg, 0.001-0.3 mass % of Mn, 0.001-0.3 mass % of Cr, 0.003-0.03 mass % of Sr, 0.005-0.05 mass % of Ti, and the remaining part of Al and unavoidable impurity. The size of Si grains existing in the elongate body is, by the average value, at most 10 ?m and by the maximum value, at most 30 ?m, and the size of the Si grains in the range of down to 1.5 mm deep from the surface is, by the maximum value, at most 6 ?m. Further, crystal texture of Al alloy is one selected from the group consisting of hot rolled texture, re-crystallized texture and mixed texture of hot rolled texture and re-crystallized texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Sato, Takayuki Kato, Norikazu Deto, Masashi Nojiri, Toshiya Ikeda, Yoshihiro Nakai, Yoshiki Kishikawa, Kiyotaka Utsunomiya
  • Publication number: 20080185079
    Abstract: The hot stretch forming of sheet metal alloys, such as highly deformable aluminum alloy materials, is improved by using a lubricant comprising bismuth between the forming tool and the engaged surface of the sheet metal. A precursor of bismuth, such as bismuth subsalicylate, may be dispersed in a liquid and applied to the sheet metal before the sheet is heated to its forming temperature. Other lubricants such as boron nitride may be combined with the bismuth precursor. The precursor compound is decomposed to bismuth (or bismuth and carbon in the case of bismuth subsalicylate) which lubricates contact between the surface(s) of the sheet and the forming tool during forming and removal of the formed part from the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Krajewski, Yang T. Cheng
  • Publication number: 20080118393
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing AlMn strip or sheet for making components by brazing, as well as the products obtained by said method. In particular this method is related to fin materials used in heat exchangers. The fins can be delivered with or without a cladding depending on application. Rolling slabs are produced from a melt which contains 0.3-1.5% Si, ?0.5% Fe, ?0.3% Cu, 1.0-2.0% Mn, ?0.5% Mg, ?4.0% Zn, ?0.3% each of elements from group IVb, Vb, or VIb elements, and unavoidable impurity elements, as well as aluminium as the remainder in which the rolling slabs prior to hot rolling are preheated at a preheating temperature of less than 550° C., preferably between 400 and 520° C., more preferably between 450 and 520° C. to control the number and size of dispersoid particles, and the preheated rolling slab is hot rolled into a hot strip. The strip is thereafter cold rolled into a strip with a total reduction of at least 90%, and the cold rolled strip is heat treated to obtain a 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Anders Oskarsson, Hans-Erik Ekstrom, Richard Westergard, Stian Tangen
  • Patent number: 7228629
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a three piece aluminum wheel assembly comprising the steps of providing a pair of circular blanks made of a heat treatable alloy to be formed into preforms of a general shape. The preforms are subjected to a quenching step in an unconstrained condition to allow for natural thermal deformation during the quenching operation. The as quenched preforms are then subjected to a first forming operation using spin forming to remove the effects of the thermal deformation in the preform, followed by a second forming step using spin forming to shape the component to its desired final shape. The components are then exposed to precipitation heating and finishing to yield the final product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Michael J. Beyer
  • Patent number: 7048816
    Abstract: A magnesium, manganese and copper-containing aluminum alloy sheet material suitable for use in high elongation forming processes is produced according to an improved thermomechanical process. The sheet material is produced by continuous casting with an as-cast gage of 5 to 35 millimeters and immediately hot rolling with a final strip exit temperature between 200° C. and 350° C. and then coiling. The hot rolled coil is annealed at 450–560° C. to homogenize the microstructure. After cooling to ambient temperature, the coil is cold rolled to desired sheet thickness with a net gage reduction of 50–90 %. After suitable recrystallization of the cold worked microstructure the sheet is ready for hot, high elongation forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Verma, Sooho Kim
  • Patent number: 6942763
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy sputter target having a sputter target face for sputtering the sputter target is disclosed. The sputter target face has a textured-metastable grain structure. The textured-metastable grain structure has a grain orientation ratio of at least 35 percent (200) orientation. The textured-metastable grain structure is stable during sputtering of the sputter target. The textured-metastable grain structure has a grain size of less than 5 ?m. The method forms aluminum alloy sputter targets by first cooling an aluminum alloy target blank to a temperature of less than ?50° C. Then deforming the cooled aluminum alloy target blank introduces plastic strain into the target blank and reduces the grain size of the grains to form a textured-metastable grain structure. Finally, finishing the aluminum alloy target blank forms a finished sputter target that maintains the textured-metastable grain structure of the finished sputter target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Praxair S.T. Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Perry, Paul S. Gilman, Jaak Van den Sype
  • Patent number: 6811625
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for making relatively low cost sheet material of magnesium- and manganese-containing aluminum alloy for high elongation forming of articles of complex configuration. The alloy is continuously cast with an as-cast gage of 6-30 mm and immediately hot rolled with final strip exit temperature between 200 C. and 350 C., and net rolled gage reduction of 30-80% to 3-12 mm, and coiled. The hot rolled coil is annealed at 470-560° C. to homogenize the microstructure. After cooling to ambient, the coil is cold rolled to desired sheet thickness, but with a net gage reduction of 50-90%. After suitable recrystallization of the cold worked microstructure the sheet is ready for hot, high elongation forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ravi Verma
  • Patent number: 6702907
    Abstract: A process for producing an aluminum alloy-made forged scroll part includes a step of casting an aluminum alloy material into a round bar having a diameter of 130 mm or less, the aluminum alloy material comprising 8.0-12.5 mass % of Si, 1.0-5.0 mass % of Cu and 0.2-1.3 mass % of Mg; a step of cutting the aluminum alloy round bar into a stock material for forging; a step of subjecting the stock material to upsetting at an upsetting ratio of 20-70% to form a pre-shaped product that is a workpiece; and a forging step of applying pressure onto the workpiece with a punch at a temperature of 300-450° C. to form a scroll wrap in a direction of the punch pressure, and wherein the forging step includes a single step in which a forged scroll part is press-formed while a back pressure smaller than the punch pressure is applied to an end of the scroll wrap in a direction opposite to the punch pressure direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Fumihiko Ohmi, Yuichi Ogura
  • Patent number: 6663729
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy foil is formed from an alloy containing about 1.2 to 1.7% by weight Fe and about 0.35 to 0.80% by weight Si, with the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The alloy is continuously strip cast to form a strip having a thickness less than about 25 mm, which is then cold rolled to interanneal gauge and interannealed at a temperature of at least 400° C. The interannealed strip is cold rolled and further annealed to form the final foil product, having excellent rollability combined with high strength of the final foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, Kevin Gatenby, Christopher Gabryel, Toshiya Anami, Takahiko Watai, Ichiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6660108
    Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum alloy fin material for brazing, which comprises: casting an aluminum alloy by continuous cast-rolling, wherein the alloy comprises above 0.1 wt % to 3 wt % of Ni, above 1.5 wt % to 2.2 wt % of Fe, and 1.2 wt % or less of Si, and at least one of Zn, In, and Sn in given amounts, the balance being unavoidable impurities and aluminum, and cold-rolling in which annealing at 250 to 500° C. is conducted plural times midway in the cold-rolling, thereby producing the fin material of a given thickness; wherein a cast coil with a given thickness is produced by continuous cast-rolling, and wherein the second last annealing is carried out with a given thickness, and wherein the final annealing is carried out under heating conditions that do not allow complete recrystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Doko, Akira Kawahara
  • Patent number: 6569270
    Abstract: Described is the production of a metal article with fine metallurgical structure and texture by a process that includes forging and rolling and control of the forging and rolling conditions. Also described is a metal article with a minimum of statically crystallized grain size difference in grain size at any location of less than about ±3%, as well as a dispersion in orientation content ratio of textures of less than about ±4% at any location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Segal
  • Publication number: 20030089430
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy sputter target having a sputter target face for sputtering the sputter target. The sputter target face has a textured-metastable grain structure. The textured-metastable grain structure has a grain orientation ratio of at least 35 percent (200) orientation. The textured-metastable grain structure is stable during sputtering of the sputter target. The textured-metastable grain structure has a grain size of less than 5 &mgr;m. The method forms aluminum alloy sputter targets by first cooling an aluminum alloy target blank to a temperature of less than −50 ° C. Then deforming the cooled aluminum alloy target blank introduces plastic strain into the target blank and reduces the grain size of the grains to form a textured-metastable grain structure. Finally, finishing the aluminum alloy target blank forms a finished sputter target that maintains the textured-metastable grain structure of the finished sputter target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Andrew C. Perry, Paul S. Gilman, Jaak Van den Sype
  • Patent number: 6533877
    Abstract: High strength foil having dead fold foil characteristics is produced without the rolling and other production problems encountered with prior high strength foils by controlling manganese content, interannealing temperatures and, optionally, final annealing temperatures. The alloy contains 0.05 to 0.15 %, preferably 0.095 to 0.125%, manganese by weight. Cold worked sheet is interannealed at a temperature of about 200° C. to about 260° C., preferably 230° to 250 ° C., to produce substantially fully recrystallized sheet while maintaining most of the manganese in solid solution. The interannealed sheet is rolled to final gauge and finally annealed, preferably at a temperature of about 250° C. to about 325° C., more preferably about 260° C. to about 325° C., to produce dead fold aluminum foil with a yield strength of at least 89.6 MPa (13 ksi), and ultimate tensile strength of at least 103.4 MPa (15 ksi) and a Mullen rating of at least 89.6 kPa (13 psi) at a gauge of 0.0015 cm (0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Thomas L. Davisson, Luc M. Montgrain, Sadashiv Nadkarni
  • Patent number: 6531006
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy foil is formed from an alloy containing about 1.2 to 1.7% by weight iron, about 0.4 to 0.8% by weight silicon and about 0.07 to 0.20% by weight manganese, with the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The alloy is continuously strip cast, e.g. on a belt caster, to form a strip having a thickness of less than about 25 mm, which is then cold rolled to interanneal gauge followed by interannealing at a temperature of about 280 to 350° C. The interanneal strip is cold rolled to final gauge and further annealed to form the final foil product, having high strength and excellent quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, Kevin Gatenby, Christopher Gabryel
  • Patent number: 6517646
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing aluminum alloy strips with a thickness less than or equal to 12 &mgr;m, by obtaining an alloy with composition (weight %): Si:0.15-0.40; Fe: 1.10-1.70; Mg<0.02; Mn:0.30-0.50; other elements <0.05 each and total <0.15; remainder aluminum; continuously casting between rolls a strip of this alloy with a thickness between 2 and 10 mm; homogenizing this strip at a temperature between 450 and 620° C. with a duration between 8 and 40 hrs; cold-rolling of the homogenized strip; intermediate annealing of this cold-rolled strip to a temperature between 200 and 400° C., and with a duration between 8 and 15 hrs; cold-rolling of the annealed strip up to the final thickness less than or equal to 12 &mgr;m; and final annealing of the strip at a temperature between 200 and 300° C., with a duration of at least 50 hrs. The method is notably applied to the manufacturing of strips for aseptic food packages of the brick type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Philippe Tavernier, Jacques Gagniere, Herve Gehanno, Sylvain Henry, Regine Debreux, Bruno Chenal
  • Patent number: 6485585
    Abstract: Pre-straining and thermal recrystallization processes for maximizing formability in SPF sheet alloys of aluminum, magnesium, iron and titanium can be modified to form sheet products with roughened or textured surfaces for low-slip applications or coating adherence or decorative applications. By determination of suitable pre-strain levels and recrystallization/forming temperatures for s sheet metal stock, relatively large grained microstructures are formed in the sheet that yield useful surface texture during forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Edward Krajewski
  • Publication number: 20020046786
    Abstract: A can end is manufactured by forming an end shell comprising a radially outer seaming flange, a chuck wall adjacent the seaming flange, a center panel, and an axially downward countersink joining the center panel to the chuck wall below the level of the seaming flange. The end shell is converted to an easy-open can end by forming a score on a portion of the center panel, raising a rivet on the center pane, and forming a tab and attaching the tab to the rivet. The end is subsequently formed by moving the center panel and the seaming flange one with respect to the other to raise the center panel above the level of the seaming flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: David Andrew Roberts, Andrew Osborne Blow, John Alfred Perigo
  • Patent number: 6350532
    Abstract: The invention relates to a recyclable aluminum foil. The foil is made of an alloy containing 0.2%-0.5% Si, 0.4%-0.8% Fe, 0.1%-0.3% Cu, and 0.05%-0.3% Mn by weight. with the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The foil contains at least about 2% by weight of strengthening particulates and has at least about 0.1% by weight of the copper and/or manganese retained in solid solution. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a sheet of aluminum based on an alloy which involves continuously casting an alloy of the above composition to form a sheet of alloy, coiling said sheet of alloy, cold rolling the sheet of alloy, interannealing the alloy after a first pass of the cold rolling; and further cold rolling the alloy to a final desired gauge. The foil, which is suitable for household use, has improved strength due to a larger quantity of dispersoids fortified by elements in solid solution, and can be recycled with other alloy scrap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Alcan International Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Davisson, Luc Montgrain, Daniel Pulliam, Sadashiv Nadkarni
  • Patent number: 6270589
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a resin-coated aluminum alloy sheet for drawn and ironed cans, which coated sheet can be subsequently formed into a drawn and ironed can without its wall breaking, and having substantial strength, the can-forming process including a bending and bending back operation at a die shoulder rounded portion of small radius, and a subsequent dry ironing operation. The coated sheet is formed by homogenization heat treating an aluminum alloy ingot containing essentially 0.5 to 2.0 wt % of Mn, 0.2 to 2.0 wt % of Mg, 0.05 to 0.4 wt % of Si and not more than 0.7 wt % of Fe, wherein (Si+Fe)≦0.9 wt %, and subjecting the aluminum alloy ingot to hot rolling to obtain an aluminum alloy sheet, followed by continuous annealing, cold rolling, and surface treatment, heating the resultant sheet, and then coating both surfaces of the sheet with a thermoplastic resin at a predetermined temperature, and immediately quenching the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Shimizu, Fumio Kunishige, Masao Komai, Ayumu Taniguchi, Jun-Ichi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 6267826
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a resin-coated aluminum alloy sheet for drawn and ironed cans, which can be formed into a drawn and ironed can free from its wall breaking and having enough strength as a can, when it is formed through a composite forming process, the process including a bending and bending back operation at a die shoulder rounded portion of a small shoulder radius and a subsequent ironing operation, under dry condition; which comprises the steps of homogenization heat treating an aluminum alloy ingot containing essentially 0.5 to 2.0 wt % of Mn, 0.2 to 2.0 wt % of Mg, 0.05 to 0.4 wt % of Si and not more than 0.7 wt % of Fe as inevitable impurities, wherein (Si+Fe)≦0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Shimizu, Shinji Shirai, Yasayuki Ikeda, Ayumu Taniguchi, Jun-Ichi Tanabe, Fumio Kunishige, Masao Komai
  • Patent number: 6261391
    Abstract: The present invention disclosed is an aluminum alloy plate for super plastic molding capable of cold pre-molding before super plastic molding. The alloy plate comprises Mg at from 2.0 to 8.0% (weight %, the same shall apply hereinafter) Be at from 0.0001 to 0.01%, at least one of Mn at from 0.3 to 2.5%, Cr at from 0.1 to 0.5%, Zr at from 0.1 to 0.5% and V at from 0.1 to 0.5%. Additionally, the alloy plate may comprise an Fe amount and an Si amount each within a range of 0.0 to 0.2%; amounts of Na and Ca within ranges of 3 ppm or less and 5 ppm or less, respectively; while the remainder of the alloy plate consists of Al and inevitable impurities. The resulting alloy plate a crystalline structure is a non-recrystallized crystal structure; the 90° critical bending radius is 7.5 times the plate thickness or less; and the yield strength ratio before and after the final annealing is 70% or more. The invention also discloses production methods for the alloy plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Sky Aluminum Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Ikeda, Masanori Kosugi, Shizuo Kimura, Mamoru Matsuo, Tsutomu Tagata, Nobuyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6165291
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy fin stock of lower (more negative) corrosion potential and higher thermal conductivity is produced by a process, which comprises continuously strip casting the alloy to form a strip, cold rolling the strip to an intermediate gauge sheet, annealing the sheet and cold rolling the sheet to final gauge. Lower corrosion potential and higher thermal conductivity are imparted by carrying out the continuous strip casting while cooling the alloy at a rate of at least 300.degree. C./second, e.g. by conducting the casting step in a twin-roll caster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, Kevin Gatenby, Toshiya Anami, Yoshito Oki
  • Patent number: 6159313
    Abstract: A continuous cast aluminum alloy strip is used in the production of thin gauge or converter foils. The alloy strip contains 0.4 to 0.8% by weigth Fe and 0.2 to 0.4% by weight Si, has an an cast thickness of less than about 30 mm and contains a substantially single intermetallic species of alpha-phase. The strip is cast using a continuous strip caster, e.g. a block or belt caster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, John Fitzsimon, Masahiko Katano, Ichiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6086690
    Abstract: A process of producing an aluminum alloy sheet article of high yield strength and ductility suitable, in particular, for use in manufacturing automotive panels. The process comprises casting a non heat-treatable aluminum alloy to form a cast slab, and subjecting said cast slab to a series of rolling steps to produce a sheet article of final gauge, preferably followed by annealing to cause recrystallization. The rolling steps involve hot and warm rolling the slab to form an intermediate sheet article of intermediate gauge, cooling the intermediate sheet article, and then warm and cold rolling the cooled intermediate sheet to final gauge at a temperature in the range of ambient temperature to 340.degree. C. to form said sheet article. The series of rolling steps is carried out continuously without intermediate coiling or full annealing of the intermediate sheet article. The invention also relates to the alloy sheet article produced by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Paul Wycliffe, Edward Stanley Luce
  • Patent number: 5993573
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for continuously casting aluminum alloys and improved aluminum alloy compositions. The process includes the steps of (a) heating the cast strip before, during or after hot rolling to a temperature in excess of the output temperature of the cast strip from the chill blocks and (b) stabilization or back annealing in an induction heater of cold rolled strip produced from the cast strip. The alloy composition has a relatively low magnesium content yet possesses superior strength properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Golden Aluminum Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Selepack, Theodore E. Blakely
  • Patent number: 5925314
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide high-ductility alloy which is improved both in casting characteristics and elongation without lowering strength by selecting a good combination of ingredients and a proportion thereof. It is another object of the invention to provide a casting which has an good elongation without being heat-treated. It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of manufacturing integral parts having some portions with specific construction which make it impossible for a set of molding dies to be separated after finishing casting by means of in-one-piece molding. Those objects can be accomplished bay providing an high ductility aluminum alloy which contains manganese ingredient, iron ingredient, magnesium ingredient and slice of unavoidable impurity, wherein a content of the iron usually regarded as impurity is set within specified limits, magnesium content is relatively less and manganese content is relatively more than that in a conventional aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Nishiguchi, Yukio Yamamoto, Yukihiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 5911844
    Abstract: A method for drawing a portion of metallic material having a known hardness. The method includes the step of applying a localized heat treatment to predetermined portions of the metallic material. Additionally, the method comprises forming the localized heat treated regions into a desired drawn or stamped configuration, wherein the configuration is substantially devoid of cracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Alumax Extrusions Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph C. Benedyk
  • Patent number: 5891273
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder liner, cast into a reciprocating piston engine, of a highly hypereutectic aluminum/silicon alloy which is free of hard material particles independent of the melt and has such a composition that fine primary silicon crystals and intermetallic phases automatically form from the melt as hard particles. By spray-compacting, a blank of finely sprayed melt droplets is caused to grow, a fine distribution of the hard particles being produced by controlled introduction of small melt droplets. The blank can be transformed by an extrusion step into a form approximating the cylinder liner. After subsequent premachining with chip removal, the running surface is precision-machined and subsequently honed in at least one stage, after which the hard particles located in the running surface are exposed, plateau faces of the particles being formed, which faces protrude from the remaining surface of the matrix structure of the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Franz Ruckert, Peter Stocker, Roland Rieger
  • Patent number: 5803997
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing thick aluminum alloy plate having improved properties comprising the hot deformation of an ingot, wherein the hot deformation comprises the combination ofat least one hot rolling operation, andat least one forging operation,in which at least one of the hot rolling and forging operations is at least partly executed in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Hoogovens Aluminium Walzprodukte GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred J. P. Haszler, Alfred L. Heinz, Otmar M. Muller
  • Patent number: 5776270
    Abstract: A method for reforming the generally cylindrical sidewalls of aluminum containers is disclosed. The method produces highly expanded and/or contoured container sidewalls which provide a distinctive appearance in comparison with cylindrical containers having straight sidewalls. Multiple expansion steps are used to expand the sidewall to a diameter substantially greater than the initial diameter of the cylindrical starting container. The sidewalls are thermally treated prior to expansion, for example, by annealing to reduce or eliminate residual stresses and work hardening. The sidewall thickness of the cylindrical starting container is preferably selected in order to maximize the total amount of sidewall expansion that can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventor: Scott C. Biondich
  • Patent number: 5772804
    Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum alloy having superplastic properties, including the steps of: heating the aluminum alloy; hot rolling to an exit temperature ranging from about 650.degree. to 70.degree. F.; and cold rolling to a gauge corresponding to a percentage of cold work selected from among those falling within the zone defined by the lines joining the points of A (475.degree. F., 10%), B (650.degree. F., 99%), C (70.degree. F., 99%) and D (70.degree. F., 10%), shown in FIG. 2, showing the relationship between the temperature range of the hot rolling exit temperature and the percent of cold work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin R. Brown
  • Patent number: 5725695
    Abstract: A method of making an aluminum foil product from an aluminum-silicon-iron aluminum alloy comprises casting the alloy into a slab, preferably by twin roll casting, cold rolling the alloy to an intermediate gauge and reroll annealing the intermediate gauge material. The reroll annealed material is then cold rolled to a final foil gauge followed by a final recrystallizing annealing. The aluminum alloy has a controlled amount of silicon and iron such that the silicon is equal to or greater than the iron amount and the reroll anneal temperature is 800.degree. F. (427.degree. C.) or less. The combination of the controlled amounts of silicon and iron and the lower reroll anneal temperature results in an improved foil product in terms of finer grain size and higher elongation which is also less costly to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventors: Bennie R. Ward, Richard E. Hughes, James P. Martin
  • Patent number: 5714019
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of producing aluminum alloy can body stock and can end stock which are particularly suitable for use in manufacturing aluminum alloy can bodies and ends for can bodies. The method for can body stock includes roll casting an aluminum alloy strip having a thickness of less than about 1 to 5 mm and, subsequently, batch annealing the strip, followed by cold rolling, continuous annealing, quenching and cold rolling to desired gauge. The aluminum alloy sheets may then be employed in manufacturing aluminum alloy can bodies. The process produces aluminum alloy sheet having an improved combination strength and caring properties with acceptable surface characteristics. Unique aluminum alloys usable in the claimed processes are also disclosed. In another embodiment, can ends are made by roll casting, followed by cold rolling preferably without prior thermal treatment, continuous annealing, quenching and cold rolling to the desired gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Robert E. Sanders, Jr., Stephen F. Baumann, W. Bryan Steverson, Scott L. Palmer
  • Patent number: 5711827
    Abstract: There are disclosed a support for a planographic printing plate, which decreases dispersion in a material quality of an aluminum alloy support and improves a yield of an electrolytic graining treatment and which can produce the planographic printing plate having a small heat softening property after a burning treatment and providing a low cost, and a method for producing the same. The support for the planographic printing plate is an aluminum alloy plate comprising 0<Fe.ltoreq.0.20 weight %, 0.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.13 weight %, 99.7 weight %.ltoreq.Al and the balance of inevitable impurity elements, wherein a solid solution amount of Fe is 10 ppm to 800 ppm, and the support has a tensile strength of 14 kg/mm.sup.2 or more and an offset stress of 10 kg/mm.sup.2 or more when it is subjected to a heat treatment by holding at 300.degree. C. for 7 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Sawada, Akio Uesugi, Tsutomu Kakei
  • Patent number: 5618358
    Abstract: A new aluminum based alloy having properties which mimic homogenized DC cast 3003 alloy and a low-cost method for manufacturing it are described. The alloy contains 0.40% to 0.70% Fe, 0.10% to less than 0.30% Mn, more than 0.10% to 0.25% Cu, less than 0.10% Si, optionally up to 0.10% Ti and the balance Al and incidental impurities. The alloy achieves properties similar to homogenized DC cast 3003 when continuously cast followed by cold rolling and if desired annealing at final gauge. Suprisingly no other heat treatments are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Inventors: Thomas Davisson, Sadashiv Nadkarni, Douglas Reesor
  • Patent number: 5605586
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy sheet suitable for high-speed forming includes subjecting the alloy to a homogenization treatment, hot rolling and cold rolling the homogenization treated alloy, thereby obtaining a cold-rolled sheet, and annealing the cold-rolled sheet. The aluminum alloy contains 4.0 to 10.0 wt. % of Mg, 0.2 wt. % of inevitable impurities of Fe and Si, 0.05 wt. % of other impurity elements, and the balance of Al. Another embodiment includes deep drawing the aluminum alloy sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Bekki, Minoru Hayashi, Ryo Syoji